National Hangover Day was a few days ago…are you still hurting?

Bet you will be surprised to learn that National Hangover Day is none other than January 1st! Perhaps not. New Year’s Eve is known for being the night to party; the artist formerly known as Prince even wrote an entire song about what was thought to potentially be the last celebration (anyone else remember Y2K??). While we all enjoy the noisemakers, confetti cannons, champagne and smooches, no one likes the hangover the next day or even the days after. Here are five ways you can avoid celebrating NHD:

1.Be choosy! - There is a lot of science behind hangovers. Our bodies react to alcohol in a myriad of ways that affect everything from hydration, glucose levels and sleep. Before you get a knowledge hangover, let me throw out an easy way to help you avoid the after-effects of a night of heavy drinking. Stick with clear booze. Yup, it’s that simple. You can read the long answer here, but the short one is that colored liquors such as whiskey (especially Bourbon), cognac and tequila have a high amount of congeners (toxic chemicals primarily responsible for hangover symptoms). In contrast, liquors such as vodka, gin and rum have very little (or in the case of vodka, almost none) congeners making them a better choice for indulgence.

2.Stay hydrated! - As a general rule of thumb, consume one glass of water for every alcoholic beverage you consume and always end the night with H2O. Alcohol is a diuretic which means it makes you pee, a lot. Less fluids in your body means dehydration. Dehydration is responsible for many unpleasant hangover symptoms such as headache, stomach irritation and cotton-mouth.

3.Pre-Game! - Nope, not with shots. With supplements. In particular, red ginseng, ginger and prickly pear have shown to be quite effective in reducing hangover symptoms. This is likely due to their anti-inflammatory effect on the body and hangovers are a form of inflammation. In one study, participants who drank prickly pear juice before a night of drinking had 40% less of an inflammation protein (i.e. hangover culprit) than the people who received the placebo. Bottom’s up!

4. Ahead! - Make sure you have some eggs, toast, maybe even some bacon on hand for a hearty breakfast the next morning. Alcohol lowers blood sugar and low blood sugar, also known as hypoglycemia, causes symptoms such as weakness and headaches. Fuel up with some protein, carbohydrates and natural sugars to replace what your partying depleted. Bonus points for cooking the night before and reheating breakfast the next morning.

5.Don’t Get Obliterated! - This is the most obvious but also most effective way to prevent a hangover. Overindulgence always comes with a price. Shoot for tipsy, not trashed. If you start to see double, back off and drink some water. Your body will thank you in the morning and you can keep from celebrating National Hangover Day like the rest of your sick-as-dog friends.

Have your own hangover prevention tips? Share them here and please drink responsibly. Cheers to a safe and fun start to 2022!